Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-08-05
A ROMANTIC CAREER.
A Young Man steals $4,000 and
Skips to a south Pacific Island,
Where He BECOMES n King,

Where He Becomes King
That wickedness sometimes prospers
Is evidenced, SAYS The NeU York World,
by the rather romantic career within
the last few months of Charles w.
Banks, formerly of Albany. this state,
later of San Francisco. Cal, and now
elevated by the power of love to the
throne of king of Cooks Island. in tho
South Pacific ocean. A history of Mr.
Banks life in Albany would add so
little interest to his later life that it is
unnecessary TO refer to il now. except
to state that in that rolling town he
married very interesting young lady.
for whom. according to his latest letter
to friends in this city. he still enter
tains the most touching affection. 1t
is hardly necessary to say that the lady
in question, Mrs. Fanny A. Banks, who
is now in this city, places so little faith
in these assurances of unbounded love
that she has begun divorce suit, and
charges his kingship with desertion
and infidelity.
Soon after the marriage of the couple
they journeyed to San Francisco where
Mr.. Banks, being intelligent and bright
as well as a handsome young man. OBJ
tanned employment in the express Office
of Wells, Fargo q Co. There he pros
pered, prospered too well for his per-
snpa1 nond. for hauinn nh
position of trust, and gained the entire
confidence of his employers, he sudden
ly disappeared six months ago, carry
ing with him over $50 600 belonging to
the company. His many friends at the
Golden gate mourned his departure for
he was good fellow. reckless with his
money, an interesting talker and a
good story-teller, while his little sup
pers at home and at his club were the
talk of society for days after each
event Mrs. Banks, too. mourned his
oss. but her reasons were widely ditfe-
rent, and she came to this city after
gathering enough evidence in San Fran
cisco to prove TO her that her husband
lad not been all that she had expected.
Consulting the law firm of Messrs.
Johnes, Benner IL Wilcox here. the
papers for a divorce were properly
irawn up, but pending information as
% the whereabouts of her recreant hus-
band, she withheld proceedings.
Meanwhile. Wells, Fargo Il Co. had
sent detectives after the defaulter. who
tracked him to Tahiti. Sandwich islands.
but the willy young man fed in
schooner few hours before the sleuth-
hounds of the law reached there From
this point the gay defaulter's move
ments much resemble those of Billy
Kid. the illustrious hero whom Rosina
Vokes sings about in her clever song
"His Art was True to Poll" Like
Billy Kid, Mr.. Banks
landed a strange shore and looked out for inn
When noble savage lady, Of a color rather shady.
Came along and accOsted him.
Oh! stay with me and the king you'll be,
And in palace Toll,
Or III eat you ike net;" 80 he gave his hand, did
Billy,
But his art was true o. Poll
Mr. Banks was certainly in luck. He
had sailed away from Tahiti for .
point anywhere out of the grasp of the
law, and favoring gales had directed
his craft to the shores of Raretonga,
Cooks island, in the South Pacific,
where the beautiful but dusky Queen
Ulakea Ulakea in English. but some
thing else in her own picturesque
language) reigned quietly and kindly
over her loving tribe. She is widow,
but ceased abruptly to grieve for her
departed lord when the handsome face
and manly bearing and figure of Mr..
Banks doomed up before her in her
quiet luxur Gus home. He was
wanderer. weary and forlorn, and she
a widow, sad and lonely, but with lots
of this worlds goods and large heart,
which she unhesitatngly threw at his
feet. Her kindness won him, coupled
with his own Yankee ingenu ty, which
told him that he had struck it rich, to
use an Americanism. and he awaited
himself of the fortunate opportunity
equally as unhesitatingly as it had been
opened to him.
There at Raretonga, safe from the
laws strong grasp, where the climate
is glorious and warm all the year round,
Banks is now living, duly domestcated
and acknowledged as king, and re-
ceiving the homage of the people, who
adore him because their beloved queen
has set them the example. The de-
tectives who found him there say he ex-
presses no desire to return to his ma
tive country, but seems satisfied to
continue his life of idleness and power.
Mrs. Banks has heard of her husbands
fortune and has decided TO begin di-
vorce proceedings at once. Her coun-
sci. Edward Il. Johnes. appeared be-
fore Judge Lawrence in the supreme